Mark your calendars for Boston's historic North End feasts

July 8, 12:55 PMBoston Food ExaminerMichelle Levine

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Saint Agrippina mattmarino.com

The North End, Boston’s Italian neighborhood, is the place to be this summer, when many of the local religious societies come together to host the feasts, or festivals. The feasts happen every year and bring together North End residents, Italian immigrants, and travelers, along with people from all around the New England area. This tradition goes back to the Lo Stivale, or the boot country and has different meanings for each group.

At the feasts, you can of course find an abundance of Italian cuisine, served casually through the streets, in a fair or carnival setting. Whether you want fresh seafood, like clams, shrimp, oysters, or calamari, or want to satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade gelato or pastries, there is something for everyone. There are all types of foods for sale and grills set up along the streets for hot sausage and peppers, teriyaki beef, baked ziti, calzones, and pizza. You may have the opportunity to receive samples for name brand cheeses, yogurts, juices, and other products as well and receive coupons.

Some restaurants located on the streets hosting that weekends feast have outdoor seating set up and specials. Local stores and other vendors have tables on the streets, if you want to purchase t-shirts and other mementos. Carnival type games with prizes, entertainment, cover bands, and DJ’s create an upbeat and fun atmosphere.

At each festival, there is a procession throughout the area, with people gathering, marching bands playing, and money being collected for the various religious groups. Members of the societies carry the statues, honoring their saints from street to street.

The North End feasts are definitely an enjoyable way to spend a weekend here in Boston. So mark your calendars and make sure you stay local to check them out!

For the list of dates for the feast celebrations for July and August see below:

St. Joseph Society: July 24 - 26, 2009
Feast Celebration: Battery & Hanover Streets

St. Agrippina di Mineo Society: July 31 - August 2, 2009
95th Feast Celebration: Battery & Hanover Streets

Madonna Della Cava Society August 7 - 9, 2009
Feast Celebration: Battery & Hanover Streets

99th Annual Fisherman's Feast of the Madonna Del Soccorso di Sciacca Society of Boston: August 13 - 16, 2009
Feast Celebration: Fleet & North Streets

90th Annual Saint Anthony's Feast of San Antonio Di Padova Da Montefalcione, Inc.: August 28 - 30, 2009
Feast Celebration: Thatcher & Endicott Streets

St. Lucy Society: August 31, 2009
St. Anthony's Feast Celebration: Thatcher & Endicott Streets

The list of dates noted above does not include the processions that don’t involve the feasts. For a full schedule along with detailed information about the origins of each feast, visit the North End Boston website.